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| US anti-lockdown rallies could cause surge in Covid-19 cases, experts warn | US anti-lockdown rallies could cause surge in Covid-19 cases, experts warn |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Epidemiologist predicts ‘new epidemic surge’ as protesters across the US flout social distancing measures | Epidemiologist predicts ‘new epidemic surge’ as protesters across the US flout social distancing measures |
| As healthcare workers in Colorado and Pennsylvania staged counter-protests against rightwing anti-quarantine rallies that continue to spread across the US, some experts warned such rallies could cause a surge in coronavirus cases. | As healthcare workers in Colorado and Pennsylvania staged counter-protests against rightwing anti-quarantine rallies that continue to spread across the US, some experts warned such rallies could cause a surge in coronavirus cases. |
| Several nurses gathered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Monday, where a protest against stay-at-home orders was taking place. The nurses carried signs urging people to go home. | Several nurses gathered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Monday, where a protest against stay-at-home orders was taking place. The nurses carried signs urging people to go home. |
| The SEIU Healthcare union said a number of nurses participated, a day after two healthcare workers in Denver blocked a similar protest in an action that went viral online. | The SEIU Healthcare union said a number of nurses participated, a day after two healthcare workers in Denver blocked a similar protest in an action that went viral online. |
| Anti-lockdown rallies have also been seen in states including Texas, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Minnesota. Some epidemiologists predict such protests could cause a surge in Covid-19 cases. | Anti-lockdown rallies have also been seen in states including Texas, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Minnesota. Some epidemiologists predict such protests could cause a surge in Covid-19 cases. |
| Video of the Harrisburg event showed many protesters defying social distancing recommendations. | Video of the Harrisburg event showed many protesters defying social distancing recommendations. |
| On Sunday a rally in Olympia, Washington state, attracted more than 2,000 people, according to the Seattle Times. Photos showed hundreds standing in close proximity outside the state capitol. | On Sunday a rally in Olympia, Washington state, attracted more than 2,000 people, according to the Seattle Times. Photos showed hundreds standing in close proximity outside the state capitol. |
| Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist and public health scientist at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, tweeted: “2,500 anti-lockdown rally in Olympia, Washington. | Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist and public health scientist at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, tweeted: “2,500 anti-lockdown rally in Olympia, Washington. |
| “I predict a new epidemic surge (incubation time ~5-7 days before onset symptoms, if any, and transmission to associates around that time, even among asymptomatics)… so increase in 2-4 weeks from now.” | “I predict a new epidemic surge (incubation time ~5-7 days before onset symptoms, if any, and transmission to associates around that time, even among asymptomatics)… so increase in 2-4 weeks from now.” |
| In pictures of the Olympia rally, one man held a sign that said: “Governmet [sic] isn’t the solution, you are!!” Another carried a sign that said: “No to 5G!”, probably referring a disproven conspiracy theory that the 5G wireless network is responsible for the virus. | In pictures of the Olympia rally, one man held a sign that said: “Governmet [sic] isn’t the solution, you are!!” Another carried a sign that said: “No to 5G!”, probably referring a disproven conspiracy theory that the 5G wireless network is responsible for the virus. |
| Some Washington state representatives took part, including Jim Walsh, Vicki Kraft and Robert Sutherland. According to the Seattle Times, Sutherland appeared to have a handgun tucked into his pants and was particularly upset about a ban on recreational fishing. | Some Washington state representatives took part, including Jim Walsh, Vicki Kraft and Robert Sutherland. According to the Seattle Times, Sutherland appeared to have a handgun tucked into his pants and was particularly upset about a ban on recreational fishing. |
| “Governor, you send men with guns after us when we go fishing, we’ll see what a revolution looks like,” he said. | “Governor, you send men with guns after us when we go fishing, we’ll see what a revolution looks like,” he said. |
| In Denver, as hundreds gathered in their cars to lament stay-at-home orders implemented by Colorado’s governor, Jared Polis, video and photographs showed two people dressed in medical scrubs standing in front of traffic. | In Denver, as hundreds gathered in their cars to lament stay-at-home orders implemented by Colorado’s governor, Jared Polis, video and photographs showed two people dressed in medical scrubs standing in front of traffic. |
| Footage showed one worker being subjected to abuse. A middle-aged woman was seen leaning out of a car, waving a sign that said: “Land of the free.” | Footage showed one worker being subjected to abuse. A middle-aged woman was seen leaning out of a car, waving a sign that said: “Land of the free.” |
| “This is a free country,” she shouted. “Land of the free. Go to China if you want communism. Go to China. You go to work, why can’t I go to work.” | “This is a free country,” she shouted. “Land of the free. Go to China if you want communism. Go to China. You go to work, why can’t I go to work.” |
| Many such events have been inspired by a Michigan protest that was planned by the Michigan Conservative Coalition (MCC) and the Michigan Freedom Fund (MFF), rightwing lobbying groups with links to the Trump administration. | Many such events have been inspired by a Michigan protest that was planned by the Michigan Conservative Coalition (MCC) and the Michigan Freedom Fund (MFF), rightwing lobbying groups with links to the Trump administration. |
| Meshawn Maddock, a member of the advisory board of Women for Trump – an official arm of the president’s re-election campaign – is an MCC member and helped organize the protest at the Michigan state capitol in Lansing last Wednesday. | Meshawn Maddock, a member of the advisory board of Women for Trump – an official arm of the president’s re-election campaign – is an MCC member and helped organize the protest at the Michigan state capitol in Lansing last Wednesday. |
| The MFF has received more than $500,000 from the family of Betsy DeVos, Donald Trump’s education secretary. DeVos has personally donated $80,000 in the past four years. | The MFF has received more than $500,000 from the family of Betsy DeVos, Donald Trump’s education secretary. DeVos has personally donated $80,000 in the past four years. |
| Fox News helped bring the Lansing rally to a wider audience. On Friday, after a favorable broadcast, Trump tweeted: “Liberate Michigan!” | Fox News helped bring the Lansing rally to a wider audience. On Friday, after a favorable broadcast, Trump tweeted: “Liberate Michigan!” |
| On Sunday, Trump defended the anti-stay-at-home protesters, many of whom have not followed federal or state social distancing guidelines. | On Sunday, Trump defended the anti-stay-at-home protesters, many of whom have not followed federal or state social distancing guidelines. |
| “They’ve got cabin fever,” Trump told reporters at a White House briefing. “They want their lives back. These people love our country. They want to get back to work.” | “They’ve got cabin fever,” Trump told reporters at a White House briefing. “They want their lives back. These people love our country. They want to get back to work.” |
| In turn, the Denver healthcare workers, who were photographed by journalist Alyson McClaran, received an outpouring of support online. | In turn, the Denver healthcare workers, who were photographed by journalist Alyson McClaran, received an outpouring of support online. |
| Further anti-lockdown rallies are planned, including in Virginia, where the Virginia Citizens Defense League is helping organize a protest outside the state capitol. | |
| On Monday, ABC News reported that Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, and North Carolina’s governor, Roy Cooper, had asked Mike Pence to stress the need for social distancing to be observed. | |
| Whitmer reportedly said though people wanted to “do the wonderful American tradition of dissent and demonstration … it’s just so dangerous to do that”. | |
| The vice-president said the White House would “make a point today and going forward to continue to reiterate” the need for social distancing, the report said. | |
| Trump’s next briefing was scheduled for 5.30pm ET. |